Gladys Lommler Putney

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Basketball

Amateur career stretched from 1924 through 1937. Played with Muny Championship Favorite Knits (1926-27) and Blepp Coombs (1927-30) and on City Class A Championship teams for four additional seasons. Named to National AAU All-Tournament second team while playing for Chicago Baby Ruth Girls in 1934-35. Returned to Cleveland and played for Fisher Foods’ City and Inter-City champs in 1935-36 and 1936-37 seasons, then turned professional to play three seasons with famed All-American Redheads.

Catherine McAleer

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Basketball

Played amateur basketball in Greater Cleveland for 19 years. During her career she played for the following teams: Clark Muny (1918-21), Favorite Knits (1922-23), Rosenblums (1924), Newman-Stern (1925-29), Allerton Hotel (1930-35) and Cleveland Aces (1936-37), all of which earned World Championship titles.

William "Willie" Fleishman

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Basketball

All-scholastic at Cleveland John Adams high in 1931. Played for Ohio State freshman team, then transferred to Western Reserve where he earned All-American recognition while leading team to two Big Four championships. Was WRU’s leading scorer for three seasons and considered by many the best basketball player in its history. Charter member of Case Western Reserve Athletic Hall of Fame.

Johnny "Sunny" Kuhar

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Basketball

Starred for numerous Cleveland amateur teams between 1915 and 1926. Was on championship teams in Class B and the Cleveland Industrial League. Twice named to Class A All-Star Team, won Class A foul-shooting championship three years.

Wally Edwards

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Basketball

Played with Harlem Globetrotters for nine years, later served as playing manager of New York Broadway Clowns and the Vancouver Royals. With Globetrotters he played more than 15 games against the College All-Stars, never losing, and also played on the winning team in the 1946 World International Cup Tournament in Mexico City. Played high school basketball at East Tech, co-captaining the team and leading it in scoring.

Mary Skorich

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Softball

Star pitcher in the ’30s for a number of area teams. Pitched and won the longest softball game ever played up to that time by girls teams. Game went 22 innings and the Cleveland Num Nums defeated the Parichy Bloomer Girls, 4-1. Once won 25 games in a season. Pitched perfect game in the Chicago Girls’ Major League.

Bernice "Jerry Joyce" Toohig

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Softball

Although standing just over five feet tall and weighing barely more than 100 pounds she was an outstanding pitcher. Between 1932 and 1940 she built a record of 133 victories and 29 losses and pitched 11 no-hit games, including one perfect contest in which no batter reached base. Was a mainstay for the World Championship Bloomer Girls in 1935 and pitched 80 consecutive scoreless innings in 1939.

Steve Loya

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Softball

Selected to the National All-Star Team four times and to the Cleveland All-City Team nine times. Was named the most Valuable Player in the 1975 National Amateur Softball Association Tournament, setting a team record of 23 consecutive hits. Once had six consecutive home runs. Received the Harwood Player of the Year Trophy at age 37 in 1971 when he hit .758 with 27 home runs.

Frank "Horse" Boldin

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Softball

An outstanding pitcher for two decades between 1928 and 1948. Possessed an overpowering fast ball that kept every team he ever pitched for in championship contention. Starred for the 1939 Nickel Plate Grille team which represented Cleveland in the national tournament that year.

Emil "Kaplafka" Downs

Induction Year : 1978

Sport: Baseball

As a Class “E” pitcher-outfielder in 1924 he batted .475 and led the league in strikeouts. Hit .460 and again led the league in strikeouts in Class “D” and became the first member of the Cleveland Press Hall of Fame. After continuing to start in Class “A” amateur ball he signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1929, but injured his leg and returned to amateur baseball, finally retiring in 1944.